Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 1028: Merchants’ Ambitions
"Haha, I don't deserve your advice." Zhu Fu said.

"Your Highness has been very kind to us merchants. Which of us Ming merchants has not been blessed by Your Highness?"

"Hosting a banquet for His Highness is just a small token of my appreciation, just a token of my appreciation... I have absolutely no other intention, absolutely no other intention."

"Yes, yes." Other businessmen also echoed. For a moment, flattery to Zhu Su was like a tide. Zhu Su smiled without saying a word, just made a few polite remarks.

Which of these businessmen is not a human sperm? No other intention? How is it possible?

Although he did help the merchants a lot, Zhu Su was not so arrogant as to think that the merchants would worship him. The merchants in the Ming Dynasty were very powerful. They controlled the salt and iron, manipulated the government, resold military equipment, and even served as guides for the Later Jin Tartars... Is there anything else that these merchants dare not do?
Zhu Su didn't think that he could really make these businessmen grateful to him just by doing a few businesses.

The merchants must have some ulterior motives for such a display. Since they did not want to speak out, Zhu Su was naturally not in a hurry. He continued to drink and listen to music calmly. If someone toasted him, he would drink until the glass was empty without any hesitation. Seeing that Zhu Su was already six points drunk, Zhu Fu, who was sitting next to Zhu Su, finally said: "Your Highness went to Annan this time, and you have become darker and thinner after returning. Although I dare not marry into the royal family, I have watched Your Highness grow up."

"Seeing Your Highness become thin and emaciated, I am really...heartbroken."

He said this with a very sad look, acting like a kind-hearted elder of the clan.

"Haha, that's right... that's fine. The scenery in Annan is actually similar to that in China... Besides, no matter how bitter and cold it is, it can never be compared to when we led our army to conquer Japan and the Western Regions."

Zhu Su seemed to be drunk. He was indifferent before, but now, when he talked about his past achievements, he showed a bit of arrogance.

Seeing this, Zhu Fu exchanged a glance with Liu Tianen and the others, then continued to pour wine for Zhu Su and said, "That's right. Your Highness, who are you? Naturally, you won't take these trivial matters seriously."

"But this is different from leading an army on an expedition. You went to Annan to promote the new learning of the Ming Dynasty and to be a teacher, not to lead an army to fight and suffer. If you are too simple, the Annan people will underestimate the royal family of the Ming Dynasty, right?"

"Yes." Liu Tianen, the son of Yihuihou, said. "If you ask me, it must be those Guangdong merchants and Chaozhou merchants who neglected Your Highness! Your Highness is such a great man, how could they let Your Highness stay in Annan and become thin and weak."

"If we were there, we would be able to serve His Highness comfortably, and His Highness would never be deprived of his power."

"Your Highness, how about we send some people to go with you to Annan when you go there next time? We will definitely be able to complete the construction of Wuqu Port better than those Cantonese and Chaozhou merchants!"

"Moreover, we will serve you comfortably!"

They thought they had already made Zhu Su drunk, and only now did their true intentions come to light.

Zhu Su suddenly realized that these guys were heading for Wuqu Port.

As a concession planned and constructed by Zhu Su himself, the imperial court naturally handed over the management of Wuqu Port to Zhu Su. In the process of building and developing Wuqu Port, Zhu Su naturally needed to mobilize the power of merchants. Guangdong merchants and Chaozhou merchants were closest to Annan and contributed the most to the construction of Wuqu Port. Of course, Zhu Su would not take advantage of them for nothing. After the construction of Wuqu Port was completed, a large part of the Annan market share would naturally be distributed to Guangdong merchants and Chaozhou merchants with Zhu Su's approval.

But it was obvious that Wuqu Port had already shown signs of prosperity, which greatly attracted the Jinling merchants, who wanted to get a piece of the pie through Zhu Su.

"Uncle...Uncle, Brother Liu," Zhu Su said deliberately with a big tongue, "I am going to Annan this time on a royal mission, not to enjoy life in a remote place."

"Besides, ...besides, the Chaozhou merchants and Guangdong merchants came to Annan to do business. They transported stones and cement for the court and recruited craftsmen. They all had their own things to do. Although they did not contribute to the construction of Wuqu Port, they also worked hard..."

"I have hands and feet, why do I need their service?"

"Uncle and Brother Liu are joking, just joking! Besides, your clan should have a lot of business in Southeast Asia that needs to be taken care of, so I won't... I won't bother you two!"

Zhu Su said dizzily.

Zhu Fu and Liu Tianen's faces were a little stiff. Zhu Su's words were undoubtedly a veiled attack on them for meddling in other people's business. Liu Tianen was younger after all, and after being secretly attacked by Zhu Su, he was quite timid and embarrassed.

Zhu Fu was thick-skinned. Thinking of the possible benefits behind Wuqu Port, he gritted his teeth secretly, slapped his knees and said, "Alas, Your Highness, I don't know. It's fine if you don't mention the Nanyang business. Once you mention the Nanyang business, I feel so bad..."

"It hurts so much,"

"Oh?" Zhu Su's eyes flickered, showing an interested look, and asked, "What do you mean?"

"It's hot in Nanyang, and the area where my home is is really remote." Zhu Fu said while sighing.

"How can there be any good livelihood in that land? It is far away from China and is almost like a wild land. The shopkeeper sent there to guard the land writes back complaining all day long. Money goes out like water every year, but there is not much income."

"We wasted a lot of money on construction, but we suffered a huge loss." Zhu Fu complained.

"Yes, Your Highness." After receiving Zhu Fu's "reminder", Liu Tianen and others complained one after another like a relay race. One said that there were wild men in their territory in Nanyang, and the other said that they had spent a lot of time and effort to send stones and wood to build the port, and they have not yet been able to get it back. In short, they described the bases of each family in Nanyang as a gold-eating cave.

Zhu Su naturally understood that the reason they said so was actually to take advantage of the Wuqu Port Concession. Many concessions built by the Ming Dynasty, such as the Sakai Port Concession in Japan and the Tamkang Port Concession in Dawan Island, have now become major commercial ports for maritime trade. The benefits are immeasurable, and these people are naturally unwilling to give up such huge benefits so easily.

Their words were nothing more than showing off their achievements to Zhu Su: In the past, it was Zhu Su's idea to rent concessions from the Nanyang countries in the name of the Ming Dynasty and then build and operate them with the power of merchants. We merchants have suffered a lot of losses in order to respond to your highness, so your highness should at least show some appreciation, right?
Do you have the nerve not to let us have a share of the benefits of the Annan Concession?
"Is this true?" Zhu Su looked surprised. "This Maritime Silk Road is a sea of ​​gold and silver. I originally thought that if I gave you the profits from these island settlements on the silver sea, even if you only got a little bit of it along the Silk Road, it would be a huge income."

"I didn't expect that I would become a burden to you all! Well, since the Nanyang areas are so bad, the imperial court will definitely not let the merchants suffer losses."

"Well, if any of you don't want to be involved in the business in Southeast Asia, you can tell me. I will report to the court and arrange for people to take over your business in Southeast Asia and give you compensation... What do you think?" Zhu Su said.

As soon as Zhu Su said this, those who had just been complaining fell silent in an instant. Embarrassment appeared on their faces, and some of them even looked at Zhu Fu, who brought up this topic, with resentment.

Their bases in Nanyang not only did not have no income, but the income was too rich, so rich that they could not easily give it up. Not to mention that the Nanyang Islands were located on the Silk Road, the huge profits brought by the merchants were already a major income. Almost all of these bases could produce and grow precious spices, and the spice business in China was undoubtedly a very profitable business. What's more, these bases were protected by the Ming Dynasty court, but they were actually the managers. It was equivalent to borrowing the power of the court to expand the territory and become local emperors on the Nanyang islands. With the identity of Ming Dynasty merchants, even the local kings had to show courtesy to them... How could they be willing to give up such a good "livelihood"?

Of course, the "losses" they mentioned were true. After all, the tax bureau of the Ming Dynasty could not manage the Nanyang areas for the time being. The merchants paid taxes on their own initiative in Nanyang transactions, so naturally they all showed "losses" in their accounts. How could they dare to let the Ming Dynasty take over their business? If the court found out, they might even be charged with the serious crime of tax evasion...

"This... As merchants of the Ming Dynasty, since the court needs our help, we will definitely complete the important tasks entrusted by the court even if we have to sell everything we have. There is no reason to give up halfway." Zhu Fu was so frightened that his mind was spinning rapidly, and he finally managed to say these righteous words. "Your Highness, please don't say that again. Although we are merchants, we always think about our country. If the court has to clean up this little thing for us, wouldn't it be unworthy of us to be Ming people?"

Upon hearing this, the merchants also expressed their loyalty, fearing that Zhu Su was determined to take back their businesses. Zhu Su watched the drama with a smile, until these people were all worried, then he laughed and said, "You are all so noble and upright, I admire you very much!"

"In this case, I will trouble you all to continue to work hard and manage Nanyang for my Ming Dynasty. Well, Nanyang maritime trade is related to the economic lifeline of my Ming Dynasty. With you all here, my Ming Dynasty will surely be able to prosper forever."

"Come on, everyone, raise your glasses and join me in wishing the Great Ming a long life!"

"Long live the Ming Dynasty, long live the Ming Dynasty!" All the merchants breathed a sigh of relief. Then, as Zhu Su said, they raised their wine cups and recited the blessing.

After all the worries were gone, everyone read the blessing with full vigor. However, just now they were still thinking about getting a share of the profits from Annan Wuqu Port, but now no one can care about it.

……

The banquet was a great feast for both the host and the guests. When the moon rose above the willows, Zhu Su was helped out of Fule Court by a group of merchants. As soon as he got into the carriage, he shook off the drowsy state he had just been in the building, and he looked energetic again. He asked his dog to bring a towel and wiped his face with the cold water from the water bag in the carriage, and even the remaining redness on his face was wiped away.

"Your Highness." Sanbao, who came with him and served him all the time, said with some doubt: "These merchants don't seem to be very loyal to Your Highness."

"Whether the profits from Wuqu Port are distributed to Jinling merchants, Guangdong merchants, or Chaozhou merchants, it makes no difference to the Ming Dynasty court."

"Besides, the more merchants share the profits, the more beneficial it will be for our Ming Dynasty. Your Highness, why don't you agree to their request? In this way, I think they will be more grateful to you, Your Highness..."

Zhu Su glanced at Sanbao. Those merchants spoke in a veiled manner, but Sanbao could actually understand the hidden meaning between their words, which made Zhu Su quite surprised.

"When merchants run their business, all they do is just one word: profit. If there is profit, they will naturally get up early. If there is no profit, they will naturally retreat." Zhu Su said.

"Since merchants value profit, there is no need to be too rigid about favors and righteousness in order to win them over. As long as we lure them with profit, we can better use the weapon of 'merchants'."

"Even if we don't share the profits of Wuqu Port with them, will they go against us? No. As long as the court can give them enough 'profits', they will naturally spare no effort to support the court's cause. On the contrary, if there is no profit, even if we show kindness to the merchants, they may not be willing to work hard for us."

"Annan Wuqu Port is indeed beneficial. But the merchants of Jinling already control too many Nanyang bases. We cannot allow them to interfere in the affairs of Annan. The court does not need to use this matter to show them favor."

"...I even feel that in order to borrow their power to help the court expand, the court has fed these merchants too much."

"If I have some spare energy someday, I should clean up the mess of these merchants."

Sanbao bowed his head and accepted the instruction, with a thoughtful look on his face. Zhu Su rubbed his brows and closed his eyes with some disgust. Socializing with these greedy businessmen really made him feel a little tired. Now, in addition to Annan, the most important thing he cared about was the Malajia pirates. How could he have the time to play tricks with these businessmen?

"Your Highness." Just as he was thinking this, Di Meng's voice came from outside the carriage. Gou'er lifted the curtain for Zhu Su. Zhu Su saw Di Meng walking parallel to the carriage. For some reason, the doorman of the palace was also beside the carriage, so he asked, "What's the matter?"

"There's news from the palace. Just now, Lord Yang Shiqi sent someone to the palace to deliver a message to Your Highness." Di Meng said respectfully. "It says that the foreigner named Abigail has died."

"Dead?" Zhu Su was shocked and stood up from the brocade cushion.

(End of this chapter)